Apparatus for inserting anticurl strips into collars



Nov. 8, 1955 own-z 2,723,061

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING ANTICURL STRIPS INTO COLLARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1953 1 75.14. FIE. 15.

xzz 5/ INVENTOR.

'Amuy LIEBOLJ/TL m BY 3; 5/ WWW B. LIEBOWITZ Nov. 8, 1955 APPARATUS FOR INSERTING ANTICURL STRIPS INTO COLLARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1953 m W E WM a /0 ,2, MM

NT/mm LlEBown- United States 2,723,061 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 ice APPARATUS FOR INSERTIN G ANTICURL STRIPS INTO COLLARS Benjamin Liebowitz, Lewisboro, N. Y.

Application June 11, 1953, Serial No. 360,922

7 Claims. (Ci. 223-2) The present invention relates to improvements in inserting devices and in particular to devices adapted to insert flexible anticurl strips into pockets located at the edges of shirt collars and the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a means for rapidly and easily inserting such strips into collar pockets.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus for inserting anticurl strips into collar pockets.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of an apparatus for inserting an anticurl strip into the pocket of a collar, this apparatus including an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be located in a collar pocket, and a combined holding and guide means fixed to one end of the bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and in front of this one end of the bodkin for guidingit into the bodkin for movement therealong. A tool such as a needle having a barbed end is adapted to engage the anticurl strip and move the same into the bodkin and into a collar pocket in which the bodkin is located.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a collar top provided with a pair of anticurl strips;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line IIII of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a side view of an anticurl strip shown in its natural curled condition;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line IVIV of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FigureS is a longitudinal sectional view through one possible apparatus for inserting an anticurl strip into a collar pocket and showing a collar impaled on the bodkin of the apparatus;

Figure 6 shows the apparatus of Figure after the anticurl strip has been moved into place with a suitable tool;

Figure 7 is a view of the apparatus of Figures 5 and 6 as seen from the left end thereof;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIIIVIII of Figure 6 in the direction 'of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end of a needle constructed in" accordance with the present invention;

- Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end of another type of needle constructed in accordance with the present invention; 1

Figure 11 is a fragmentary'view of a collar'portion having an edge pocket into which an anticurl strip is a ed to m y.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment 'of an inserting device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of Figure 12 in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line X[V-X[V of Figure 12 in the direction of the arrow.

Patents such as U. S. Reissue Patent No. 23,617 show means for preventing or opposing the tendency of collar points to curl away from the body of the wearer. Figure 1 shows a conventional collar top 10 having a topstitching 10a. A bielastic anticurl strip 11, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, is inserted between each short edge 1% of the collar 10 and the topstitching 10a. Figure 2 shows the bielastic strip 11 located in one of the pockets of collar 10 between the back ply 12 and the lining 13 thereof, the face ply 14 of the collar 10 being shown at the bottom of Figure 2 facing downwardly.

A typical bielastic anticurl strip 11 is shown in Figure 3 more or less in its natural curled position. This anticurl strip comprises a compression-resistant strip 20 (Figures 3 and 4) having awidth of A5", for example, and a thickness of approximately for example. The compression-resistant strip 20 may be made of nylonplastic, for example, and is preferably grooved as shown in Figure 4. A stretched rubber element 22 is attached to strip 20 by means of the stitches 21. It is the stretch of the rubber element 22 which confers the curling property on the entire bielastic strip 11. The tension of the rubber element 22 is at a minimum in the neighborhood of the point end of strip 11, adapted to be located at the collar point, and at a maximum at the opposite or crotch end of the strip 11. In Figure 2 the anticurl strip 11 is shown in a straight condition more or less as it exists when the collar is worn (except for curling around the tie knot).

The apparatus shown in Figures 5 to 10, as well as that shown in Figures 12 to 14, provides a solution to the problem of expeditiously inserting the anticurl strip 11 into the collar pockets naturally formed along the short edges 10b of the collar 10, as shown in Figure 1. In general, this apparatus consists of a thin, elongated channelshaped member, called a bodkin, adapted to be inserted into a pocket of the collar top. The point end of the anticurl strip is inserted, in the example of Figures 5 to 10, into a spring-backed recess adapted to receive this point end of the anticurl strip and temporarily hold it in a more or less vertical position accurately located opposite and adjacent to the butt end of the bodkin. The anticurl strip is pushed into the channel of the bodkin and is thereby inserted into the pocket of the collar with the aid of a suitable tool such as a needle having at its front end a barb adapted to engage the anticurl strip. To facilitate the initial insertion of the bodkin into the collar, an easy entrance may be provided preferably by bending back the corner of the back ply 12 of the collar next to the crotch, as shown at 15 in Figure 11.

As is shown in Figure 5, the thin, elongated, narrow, channel-shaped bodkin 33 is preferably provided with a somewhat pointed,'tapered leading end 33a. This channel member may be made of stainless steel having a thickness of approximately 0.005 to 0.007", for example, the width of the channel being a little greater than the width of the anticurl strip to be inserted. The butt end of bodkin 33 is fixed to the top face of a block 30 which may be fastened to a table or work bench 31, for example, by means of an angle member 32.

The block 30, which may be made of plastic if desired, is rectangular in shape and formed with a wedge-shaped tapered groove casttor machined in its vertical end face shown at the left in Figures 5 and 6 and adapted to face the operator,- This groove 30a is formed with opposite side faces which converge toward each other as they approach the bottom of the groove and which converge toward each other as they approach the top end of block 30, as is shown in Figure 7. A cap member 34 is mounted on block 30, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, and bridges the groove 30a adjacent the top end of block 30 to form with this groove a recess into which the end of the anticurl strip 11 may be quickly and expeditiously inserted and accurately located with respect to bodkin 33. This cap 34 is likewise provided with a tapered, wedge-shaped notch 34a, shown in Figures 5 to 7, to facilitate insertion of the end of the anticurl strip 11-into this recess.

A light leaf spring member 35 is fixed to and extends along the bottom of the groove 30a formed in block 30, this leaf spring being held in position by a screw 35a or the like, and the upper end portion'of spring 35 presses lightly against the inner vertical surface of cap 34 and extends into the recess formed by the cap and groove to form a light spring clamp to hold the upper end of anticurl strip 11 temporarily in a proper position after it has been inserted into the recess. The top free end of spring 35 slightly overlaps a cutout of cap 34 in the form of a notch 34b and may be serrated at its top extremity to facilitate holding of the strip.

The upper end of anticurl strip 11 abuts against the bottom surface of cap 34 to be located thereby endwise in a fairly precise manner. The tapered wedge-shaped groove 30a has at its upper end a continuation in the form of sweeping curved groove portion 30b which is aligned with and forms a continuation of the inner face 33a of bodkin 33, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

After the collar is impaled on bodkin 33 by pulling the collar pocket over the bodkin so as to insert the latter into this pocket, and after the end of anticurl strip 11 has been inserted into the recess formed by cap 34 and groove 30a, 30b to be accurately located therein, the barb 40a of a needle 40 (Figure 10) is inserted into the end of the anticurl strip, as shown in Figure 5. The notch 34b permits the needle barb to have access to the end of the anticurl strip, this notch 34b, as shown in Figure 7, being located directly over notch 34a. After the end of the anticurl strip is thus engaged by the needle, the latter is pushed forwardly through notch 34b to enter the mouth of the pocket provided as shown at 15 in Figure 11, and the anticurl strip is dragged along with the needle being guided by groove portion 30b.

The needle is then pushed further forward dragging the anticurl strip with it until the anticurl strip has been inserted into the pocket as far as desired. The relative position of the parts after insertion of the anticurl strip is shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 shows the relative position of the parts in cross section. After the insertion is completed, the collar 10 is slid off the bodkin 33 carrying the needle and anticurl strip with it, and then flie needle 40 may be removed without disturbing the anticurl strip.

Figure 10 shows the details of needle 40. The end of this needle 40 is flattened and then provided with a sharp barb 40a which is bent downwardly, as viewed in Figure 10. The shoulders formed between the flattened portion of the needle and the base of the barb limit the extent to which the barb can pierce the anticurl strip 11. Another needle construction is shown in Figure 9 where the end face 41a of needle 41 is inclined to the axis of the needle and where a slot 41b is formed in the needle as shown. A short hardened needle point 42, similar to a phonograph needle, is held in slot 41b by a drive or press fit. The sharp pointed end of the hardened needle 42 extends slightly beyond the inclined end face 41a and is bent downwardly, this end face 41a limiting the extent to which the barb 42 may pierce the anticurl strip. Of course, other forms of needles may be used.

Figures 12V to 14 show an apparatus similar to that of Figures 5 to 7 for inserting an anticurl strip into a collar pocket. According to this embodiment of the invention, no leaf spring such as spring 35 of Figures 5 to 7 is required. As may be seen from Figure 12, the block 50, which may be made of the same material as the block 30, is fixed to the work bench, table, or the like, 31 through the medium of an angle member 32, in the same way as the block 34) of Figures 5 to 7.

This block 50 carries a bodkin 51 identical with bodkin 33 and is formed at its left end face, as viewed in Figure 12, with an upwardly extending groove portion 500 merging into the curved sweeping groove portion 50b which forms a continuation of the inner face 33a of the bodkin 51. A cap member 52 identical with cap member 34 is mounted on the block 50 in the same way that the cap member 34 is mounted on the block 30. As is evident from Figure 13, the groove 50a is shaped differently from the groove 30a.

Opposite the cap member 52 approximately where the groove portion 50a joins the groove portion 5%, a depression 500 is formed to receive a part of the anticurl strip 11 when it is in the position shown in Figure 12 preparatory to being moved into the bodkin 51 and a collar pocket surrounding the same. As is evident from Figure 12, this depression 50c in cooperation with the inherent resiliency of the anticurl strip 11 and the engagement between the latter and cap member 52 prevents the strip 11 from falling from the position shown in Figure 12 so that it is maintained in this position where the top end of the strip 11 extends upwardly beyond the bottom edge of the top notch formed in the cap member 52 so that this top end of the anticurl strip 11 is in a position to be engaged by the barbed end of the needles of either Figure 9 or 10 to be moved along the groove portion 5012 into the bodkin 51 and a collar pocket surrounding the same, and as was described above in connection with Figures 5 to 10.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of apparatus for inserting anticurl strips into collars differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in guide apparatus for guiding anticurl strips into collar pockets and the like, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of my invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for inserting a strip into an elongated pocket of a garment, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be temporarily inserted into a garment pocket; and combined holding and guide means fixed to one end of said bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and in front of said end of said bodkin and for guiding said strip during subsequent insertion thereof into said bodkin, said combined holding and guide means including a block having an end face spaced from said bodkin and formed with a groove having a first portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said bodkin and a curved second portion extending from said first portion smoothly to said end of said bodkin in alignment with the inner face thereof, and a cap'memher located on said end face of said block adjacent and bridging said curved second portion of said groove to form a recess therewith, said end of said strip being adapted to be'located in said recess'in engagement with said cap to be held thereby temporarily in a position to be moved along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin. I

2. Apparatus for inserting astrip into an elongated pocket of a garment, comprising, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be temporarily inserted into a garment pocketycombined holding and guide means fixed to one end of said bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and in front of said end of said bodkin and for guiding said strip during subsequent movement thereof into said bodkin, said combined holding and guide means including a block having an end face spaced from said bodkin and formed with a groove having a first portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said bodkin and a curved second portion extending from said first portion smoothly to said end of said bodkinin alignment with the inner face thereof, and a cap member located on said end face of said block adjacent and bridging said curved second portion of said groove to form a recess therewith, said end of said strip being adapted to be located in said recess in engagement with said cap member" to be held'thereby temporarily in a position to be moved along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin, said first portion of said groove having opposite side faces converging toward each other as they approach the bottom of said first portion of said groove and also converging towards each other as they approach said second portion of said groove; and an elongated tool adapted to engage said end of the strip while said tool is in engagement with said cap member and to move said end of the strip into said bodkin and hence into a garment pocket in which said bodkin is temporarily inserted, thereby inserting the entire strip into the garment pocket.

3. Apparatus for inserting a strip into an elongated pocket of a garment, comprising, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be temporarily inserted into a collar pocket; combined holding and guide means fixed to one end of said bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and in front of said end of said bodkin and for guiding said strip during subsequent insertion thereof into said bodkin, said combined holding and guide means including a block having an end face spaced from said bodkin and formed with a groove having a first portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said bodkin and a curved second portion extending from said first portion smoothly to said end of said bodkin in alignment with the inner face thereof, and a cap member located on said end face of said block adjacent and bridging said curved second portion of said groove to form a recess therewith, said end of said strip being adapted to be located in said recess in engagement with said cap member to be held thereby temporarily in a position to be moved along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin, said groove being formed with a depression located opposite said cap member to receive a part of said strip so that the latter is held by its own resiliency in engagement with said block and cap member, said cap member being formed with a cutout located in alignment with said bodkin; and an elongated needle adapted to move through said cutout of said cap member and having a barbed end adapted to engage an end of a strip temporarily held by said block and cap member while said needle is located in said cutout in engagement with said cap member and to move the strip along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin and hence into a garment pocket in which said bodkin is temporarily inserted, thereby inserting the entire strip into the garment pocket.

4. Apparatus for inserting a strip into an elongated pocket of a garment, comprising, in combination, an

elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to -betern porarily inserted into a garment pocket; combined holding and guide means fixed to one end of said bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and 1 in front of said end of said bodkin and for guiding said strip during subsequent insertion thereof into said bodkin, said combined holding and guide means includ-' ing a block having an end face spaced from said bod said groove to form a recess therewith, said end of said strip being adapted to be located in said recess in engagement with said cap member to be held thereby temporarily'in a position to be moved along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin, and a leaf Spring fixed to said block in said first portion of said groove and'having a free end located in said recess against said cap member so that a strip will be resiliently and temporarily held between said cap member and leaf spring; and an elongated tool adapted to engage said end of the strip while said tool is located in said cutout in engagement with said cap member and to move said end of the strip into said bodkin and hence into a garment pocket in which said bodkin is temporarily inserted, thereby inserting the entire strip into the garment pocket.

5. Apparatus for inserting a strip into an elongated pocket of a garment, comprising, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be temporarily inserted into a garment pocket; combined holding and guide means fixed to one end of said bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and in front of said end of said bodkin and for guiding said strip during subsequent insertion thereof into said bodkin, said combined holding and guide means including a block having an end face spaced from said bodkin and formed with a groove having a first portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said bodkin and a curved second portion extending from said first portion smoothly to said end of said bodkin in alignment with the inner face thereof, and a cap member located on said end face of said block adjacent and bridging said curved second portion of said groove to form a recess therewith, said end of said strip being adapted to be located in said recess in engagement with said cap to be held thereby temporarily in a position to be moved along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin, said cap member being formed with a cutout located in alignment with said bodkin, and a leaf spring fixed to said block in said first portion of said groove and vhaving a free end located in said recess against said cap'member and partly overlapping said cutout of said cap member so that a strip will be resiliently and temporarily held between said cap member and leaf spring; and an elongated tool adapted to engage said end of the strip while said tool is located in said cutout in engagement with said cap member and to move said end of the strip into said bodkin and hence into a garment pocket in which said bodkin is temporarily inserted, thereby inserting the entire strip into the garment pocket.

6. Apparatus for inserting a strip into an elongated pocket of a garment, comprising, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be temporarily inserted into a garment pocket; combined holding and guide means fixed to one end of said bodkin for temporarily holding an end of the strip adjacent and in front of said end of said bodkin and for guiding said strip during subsequent insertion thereof into said bodkin, said combined holding and guide means including a block having an cndface spaced: from said bodkin and formed with a groove having a first portion extending in..a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said bodkin and a curved second portion extending from said first portion smoothly to said end of said bodkin in alignment with the inner face thereof, and a cap member located on said end face of said block adjacent and bridging said curved second portion of said groove to form a recess therewith, said end of said strip being adapted to be located in said recess in engagement with said cap member to be held thereby temporarily in a position to be moved along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin, said cap member being formed with a cutout located in alignment with said bodkin, and a leaf spring fixed to said block in said first portion of said groove and having a free end located in said recess against said cap member and partly overlapping said cutout of said cap member so that a strip will be resiliently and temporarily held between said cap member and leaf spring; and an elongated needle adapted to move through said cutout of said cap memberand having a barbed end adapted to engage an end of a strip temporarily held by said spring and cap member while said needle is located in said cutout in engagement with said cap member and tomove the strip along said second portion of said groove into said bodkin and hence into a garment pocket in which said bodkin is temporarily inserted, thereby inserting the entire strip into the garment pocket.

7. Apparatus for inserting a strip into an elongated pocket of a garment, comprising, in combination, an elongated channel-shaped bodkin adapted to be temporarilyinsertcd into the pocket-of a garment; a block carrying said bodkinat one end thereof'and being formed with a groove havinga firstportion extending in a di rection substantially perpendicular to the length of said bodkin and a curved second portion extending from said first portion smoothly into said bodkin in alignment with the. inner face thereof; a cap member located on said block adjacent and bridging said curved second portion of said groove to form a recess therewith, said cap memher having an inner face located substantially in a plane normal to the length of said bodkin and being formed with a cutout located opposite said one end of said bodkin; a leaf spring fixed. to the bottom of said first portion of said groove, e,xtending into said recess, and having a free end portion engaging said inner face of said cap member and overlapping said cutout of said cap member; and an elongated needle adapted to move through said cut. out ,of said cap member and having a barbedend adapted to pierce an end portionof a strip located between said cap member and said free end portion of said leaf spring while said barbed end of said needle is located in said cutout in engagement with said cap memher and to move the end portion of the strip into said bodkin and hence into a garment pocket in which said bodkin is temporarily inserted, thereby inserting the entire strip into the garment pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,037 Liebowitz June 17, 1952 

